Sealing device

ABSTRACT

A sliding portion between a seal lip ( 7 ) and the circumference of a shaft ( 3 ) is made of a sliding face ( 10 ) so that the facial pressure at the initial action time can be lowered to suppress the proceeding of the wear of the seal lip ( 7 ) thereby to elongate the lifetime of a sealing device ( 1 ). Moreover, screw ridges ( 12 ) are formed from an atmospheric side slope ( 11 ) to a sliding face ( 10 ) so that satisfactory sealing properties can be exhibited initially and endurably for a long time.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a sealing device such as an oil seal tobe used in the shaft sealing portions of various devices and, moreparticularly, to a structure having screw ridges on the atmospheric sideslope of a seal lip.

BACKGROUND ART

A sealing device of this kind has been known in the related art anddisclosed in JP-A-9-42463, for example, as shown in FIG. 7.

This sealing device 100 is mounted in the annular clearance between ahousing 102 and a shaft 103, i.e., two members to be assembled to rotaterelative to each other, so that it seals up that annular clearancethereby to prevent a sealed object such as oil from leaking out.

The sealing device 100 is constructed to include: an annular seal body105 to be fitted on the inner circumference of a shaft bore formed inthe housing 102; and a reinforcing ring 104 to be fitted in the sealbody 105 for giving it rigidity.

The seal body 105 is provided with a seal lip 107, which extendsradially inward from an atmospheric side A toward an sealed object sideO. Moreover, the seal lip 107 is provided at its leading end portionwith a lip leading end 110 having a wedge-shaped section. This lipleading end 110 has a predetermined interference with the circumferenceof the shaft 103 so that it is slidably brought into sealing contactwith the circumference of the shaft 103 by its elastic restoring forcethereby to prevent the sealed object from leaking out.

On an atmospheric side slope 111 of the seal lip 107, on the other hand,there are formed screw ridges 112. Each of these screw ridges 112 isshaped by combining a bilge-shaped portion 112 a, which is larger inheight and width toward the axially intermediate portion, and a straightportion 102 b having substantially constant height and width. Thestraight portion 102 b merges into the end portion of the bilge-shapedportion 112 a on the side of the lip leading end 110 and extends to thelip leading end 110.

By thus providing the screw ridge 112 in which the bilge-shaped portion112 a and the straight portion 112 b are continuously combined with theatmospheric side slope 111 of the seal lip 107, the initial sealingproperties are retained by the straight portion 112 b, and thedeterioration in the sealing properties of the seal lip 107 while thewear is proceeding is prevented by the bilge-shaped portion 112 a.

However, the case of the related art thus far described has thefollowing problems.

Generally, the sealing device made of elastomer is prepared by pouringelastic material into a molding die and by vulcanizing and shaping it.In order to form the screw ridges on the seal lip, therefore, recessesconforming to the screw shape have to be formed in advance in themolding die.

In order to obtain the screw ridge 112 having the aforementioned twodifferent shapes combined, two steps shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B arerequired for manufacturing the molding die. At first, a cutter 114having a straight blade edge is pushed onto a molding die 116, as shownin FIG. 8A, to form a recess (depression) 117 corresponding to thestraight portion. Next, as shown in FIG. 8B a cutter 115 having anarcuate blade edge is pushed onto the recess 117 to form a recess 118corresponding to the bilge-shaped portion. Thus, the sealing device ofthe conventional construction invites complexity and complicatedness inthe processing step of the molding die 116 and is demanded for a highworking precision.

On the other hand, the lip leading end 110 of the seal lip 107 of therelated art is a sharp edge. Therefore, the fastening pressure (or thefacial pressure) at the initial action time is raised to cause a problemthat the proceeding of the wear of the lip leading end 110 isaccelerated.

In the wedge-shaped lip of the related art, moreover, it is necessarythat the unnecessary portion of the lip leading end is cut off with aknife after the vulcanized and shaped seal body was taken out from themolding die 116. This necessity complicates the working process of thesealing device itself and raises the cost. Another problem is that thisknife-cutting step easily causes dispersion in the cutting position.

The invention has been conceived in view of the background thus fardescribed, and has an object to provide a sealing device which has aneasy manufacturing and a slow proceeding of wear so that satisfactorysealing properties can be exhibited initially and endurably for a longtime.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the above-specified object, according to theinvention, there is provided a sealing device for sealing an annularclearance between two members assembled to rotate relative to eachother, the sealing device comprising a seal lip for sliding on thecircumference of one of the two members, wherein the seal lip includes:a sliding face extending along the circumference; an atmospheric sideslope inclined to enlarge the clearance gradually between the slope andthe circumference from the atmospheric side end edge of the slidingface; and a screw ridge formed from said atmospheric side slope to saidsliding face.

The sliding portion between the seal lip and the member circumference ismade of a face (or a sliding face) so that the facial pressure at theinitial action time can be lowered unlike the wedge-shaped lip of therelated art, to retard the proceeding of the wear of the sliding portionof the seal lip thereby to elongate the lifetime of the sealing device.

Moreover, the screw ridge is formed to extend from the atmospheric sideslope to the sliding face so that it makes proper contacts with themember circumference both at the long action time (or when the wearproceeds) and at the initial action time. Specifically, at the initialaction time, a screw portion arranged on the sliding face makes contactswith the member circumference to exhibit the screw pump effect therebyto retain the initial sealing properties. In case the wear of the screwportion proceeds, on the other hand, a screw portion arranged on theatmospheric side slope makes contacts with the member circumference tokeep/improve the screw pump effect thereby to prevent the deteriorationof the sealing properties when the wear proceeds. Therefore, thesatisfactory sealing properties can be exhibited initially and endurablyfor a long time.

In case the screw ridge having two kinds of screw portions combined forthe initial action time and the wear proceeding time are to bemanufactured, the molding die has to be worked in the related art byusing two kinds of working jigs (or cutters) corresponding to theindividual screw portions. This is partly because the joint portion ofthe two kinds of screw portions is discontinuous and partly because theinternal angle of the joint portion is made reentrant (i.e., an anglelarger than 180 degrees). This is further because it is generallyextremely difficult to manufacture such a cutter as can work the recesscorresponding to that reentrant angle by a single cutting operation.

In the invention, therefore, this problem is solved by adopting aconstruction, in which the internal angle of the joint between the screwportion for the initial action time and the screw portion for the wearproceeding time is made salient.

For example, the screw actions of two stages for the initial action timeand the wear proceeding time are realized at first by arranging thescrew ridge across the two faces, i.e., the sliding face and theatmospheric side slope and then by making the screw portion arranged onthe sliding face dominant at the initial action time and the screwportion arranged on the atmospheric side slope dominant at the wearproceeding time.

Here, the atmospheric side slope is inclined to make the clearancegradually wider between the atmospheric side end edge of the slidingface and the member circumference, so that the internal angle betweenthe sliding face and the atmospheric side slope is made salient. Then,the internal angle of the joint between the screw portion for theinitial action time and the screw portion for the wear proceeding timecan also be made salient.

If the internal angle of the joint of the two screw portions is salientalthough discontinuous, it is relatively easy to manufacture the bladeedge of the cutter in a manner to correspond to such screw shape. If thecutter matching that screw shape is used on the basis of theaforementioned construction, therefore, it is possible to simplify andfacilitate the process of manufacturing the molding die of the sealingdevice.

Moreover, it is preferable that the screw ridge is formed along theatmospheric side slope and to have such a shape that its end portion onthe side of the sliding face is cut off along the sliding face.

The recess corresponding to that screw shape can be manufactured by asingle cutting operation using a cutter cut off at the end portion ofits blade edge. Here, the shape of this cutoff portion may be either ataper straight one or a rounded curve one. In the case of the straightcutoff shape, however, the manufacturing of the cutter itself is easy.In case the cutter is more or less offset in the axial direction whenpushed onto the molding die, moreover, the dispersion in the sealingperformance due to the working precision can be suppressed withouthardly affecting the screw height (from the sliding face) of the cutoffportions of the screw ridge adversely.

In addition to the aforementioned construction of the sealing device,moreover, it is preferable that second screw ridge is formed only on thesliding face.

At the initial action time, therefore, the sliding face, the screw ridgeand the second screw ridge make contacts with the member circumferenceso that the screw pump effect by the screw ridges can be enhanced toimprove the initial sealing properties better.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic section of a sealing device according to a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section of an essential portion of the sealing deviceaccording to the same embodiment;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a cutter for forming a recesscorresponding to a screw ridge;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior, in which a recesscorresponding to the screw ridge is formed in a molding die;

FIG. 5 is a schematic section of a sealing device according to a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic sections of sealing devices according toother embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic section of a sealing device of the related art;and

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic diagrams showing the behavior, in which arecess corresponding to the screw ridge of the related art is formed ina molding die.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described illustrativelyin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, thesizes, materials, shapes and relative arrangements of the componentsdescribed in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention to the described ones so long as they are not specificallydescribed so.

First Embodiment

A sealing device according to a first embodiment of the invention willbe described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 is a schematic section of a sealing device 1 of the embodiment,and FIG. 2 is a section of an essential portion of the sealing device 1.

This sealing device 1 is mounted in an annular clearance between ahousing 2 and a shaft 3 acting as two members, which are assembled torotate concentrically of and relative to each other, so that it may sealup the annular clearance thereby to prevent a sealed object such as oilfrom leaking out.

The sealing device 1 is constructed to include: an annular seal body 5to be fitted on the inner circumference of a shaft bore formed in thehousing 2; and a reinforcing ring 4 to be fitted in the seal body 5 forgiving it rigidity.

The reinforcing ring 4 is an annular member of a metal having anL-shaped section and includes: a cylindrical portion 4 a disposed alongthe inner circumference of the shaft bore; and an inward flange portion4 b extending radially inward from the end portion of the cylindricalportion 4 a on an atmospheric side A.

The seal body 5 is made of elastomer, which is integrally baked andfixed over from the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 4 aof the reinforcing ring 4 to the end face of the inward flange portion 4b on the atmospheric side A and to the end face of the same on a sealedobject side O.

In the seal body 5, an outer circumference seal portion 6 fixed on theouter circumference of the cylindrical portion 4 a of the reinforcingring 4 has a predetermined interference with the inner circumference ofthe shaft bore of the housing 2. The outer circumference seal portion 6is firmly fixed on the inner circumference of the shaft bore whilereceiving a fitting rigidity from the cylindrical portion 4 a of thereinforcing ring 4 thereby to prevent the sealed object from leaking outfrom the inner circumference of the shaft bore. Here, the outercircumference seal portion 6 is not an essential component but may bereplaced by a construction (of a metal fitting type), in which thecylindrical portion 4 a of the reinforcing ring 4 is fitted directly onthe inner circumference of the shaft bore.

At the seal body 5 on the side of the shaft 3, on the other hand, thereare formed: a seal lip 7 which extends radially inward toward the sealedobject side O from the inner end of the inward flange portion 4 b of thereinforcing ring 4; and a dust lip 8 which extends radially inwardoppositely toward the atmospheric side A.

The dust lip 8 has such a plate-shaped section that its leading end maycome into sealing contact slidably with the circumference of the shaft3. This sealing contact prevents dust from invading from the atmosphericside A.

The seal lip 7 includes: a sealed object side slope 9 confronting thesealed object side O; an atmospheric side slope 11 confronting theatmospheric side A; and a sliding face 10 arranged between those sealedobject side slope 9 and atmospheric side slope 11.

The sealed object side slope 9 of the seal lip 7 is inclined to enlargethe clearance from the circumference of the shaft 3 gradually from theend edge of the sliding face 10 on the sealed object side O toward thesealed object side O. It is preferred that an angle of slope θ₁ (FIG. 2)of the sealed object side slope 9 with respect to the circumference ofthe shaft 3 is set within a range of 45 degrees±10 degrees.

On the other hand, the atmospheric side slope 11 of the seal lip 7 isinclined to enlarge the clearance from the circumference of the shaft 3gradually from the end edge of the sliding face 10 on the atmosphericside A toward the atmospheric side A. It is preferred that an angle ofslope θ₂ of the atmospheric side slope 11 with respect to thecircumference of the shaft 3 is set within a range of 25 degrees±10degrees.

Between the sealed object side slope 9 and the atmospheric side slope11, moreover, there is formed the sliding face 10 along thecircumference of the shaft 3. Specifically, the leading end of the seallip 7 is so continuously formed, from the sealed object side O to theatmospheric side A, of the sealed object side slope 9, the sliding face10 and the atmospheric side slope 11, that it constructs a flat typesliding portion having a generally trapezoidal section.

Here, it is preferred that an angle of slope θ₃ of the sliding face 10with respect to the circumference of the shaft 3 is set within a rangeof 10 degrees±10 degrees. Specifically, it is preferred that the slidingface 10 is so inclined although substantially along the circumference ofthe shaft 3 that the clearance from the circumference of the shaft 3 isslightly enlarged gradually toward the atmospheric side A. However, itis necessary that the relation of θ₃<θ₂ be satisfied.

In this embodiment, moreover, the seal lip 7 is provided with screwridges (or pumping ridges or pumping ribs) 12 from the atmospheric sideslope 11 to the sliding face 10.

Each screw ridge 12 has a basic shape of a bilge-shaped screw formedalong the atmospheric side slope 11, but its end portion (i.e., a cutoffportion 12 a) on the side of the sliding face 10 is formed into such ashape that it is cut off along the sliding face 10 (or the circumferenceof the shaft 3). Moreover, the cutoff portion 12 a has a leading end 12b reaching so far as the sliding face 10.

It is preferred that an angle of slope θ₄ of the cutoff portion 12 awith respect to the circumference of the shaft 3 is set within a rangeof 0 degrees to 45 degrees. Specifically, it is preferred that thecutoff portion 12 a is formed generally in parallel with thecircumference of the shaft 3 or inclined to enlarge the clearance fromthe circumference of the shaft 3 gradually toward the sealed object sideO.

Of the screw ridge 12, therefore, the internal angle of the jointportion between the screw portion (i.e., the bilge-shaped portion) ofthe screw ridge 12 arranged on the atmospheric side slope 11 and thescrew portion (i.e., the cutoff portion 12 a) arranged on the slidingface 10 is salient (i.e., an angle smaller than 180 degrees).

The lip leading portion having the aforementioned construction has apredetermined interference with the circumference of the shaft 3, asshown in FIG. 1. When the sealing device 1 is mounted on the shaft 3,therefore, it is so subject to an elastic deformation that the seal lip7 is radially enlarged. By the elastic restoring force of the seal lip7, the sealing device 1 is slidably brought into sealing contact withthe circumference of the shaft 3. Here, on the outer circumference sideof the seal lip 7, as located just on the back of the sliding face 10,there is mounted a garter spring 13 for giving the lip leading endportion a tensing force to tense it onto the shaft 3.

In the sealing device 1 thus constructed, the sliding face 10 and thecutoff portion 12 a of the screw ridge 12 comes at first of the initialaction time into contact with the circumference of the shaft 3. By thesuction effect of the sliding face 10 and the screw pump effect of thescrew ridges 12, therefore, satisfactory sealing properties can beobtained to prevent the sealed object from leaking from the sealedobject side O.

As the wear of the screw leading end portion proceeds in the operationfor a long term, moreover, the width of contact of the sliding face 10becomes larger. Accordingly, the bilge-shaped portion of the screw ridge12 comes into contact with the circumference of the shaft 3 so that thecontact width of the screw ridge 12 becomes larger. Here, the “contactwidth” means the axial width of the contact face with the circumferenceof the shaft 3.

The screw pump effect by the screw ridge 12 is determined by the ratiobetween the contact width of the sliding face 10 and the contact widthof the screw ridge 12. According to the construction of the embodiment,the contact width of the screw ridge 12 becomes larger as the wearproceeds. Even after the operation for the long term, therefore, thesatisfactory sealing properties can be kept without any deterioration.

The screw ridges 12 are thus formed along the atmospheric side slope 11and the sliding face 10 so that the initial sealing properties can beretained by the cutoff portions 12 a. At the same time, the sealingproperties can also be prevented from degrading when the wear proceeds,so that the satisfactory sealing properties can be exhibited initiallyand durably for a long time.

In this embodiment, moreover, the sliding portions of the lip leadingend portions are facial (or the sliding face 10) so that the fasteningpressure at the initial stage of operation can be made lower than thatof the wedge-shaped lip of the related art. As a result, the wear of thelip leading end portions can be retarded to elongate the lifetime of thesealing device 1.

According to the sealing device 1 of this embodiment, moreover, theadoption of the construction thus far described can facilitate themanufacturing of the molding die and the sealing device itself, as willbe described in detail.

Generally, the sealing device made of elastomer is prepared by pouringelastic material into a molding die and by vulcanizing and shaping it.In order to form the screw ridges on the seal lip, therefore, it isnecessary to form recesses conforming to the screw shape in advance inthe molding die.

In the case of the screw ridge having two kinds screw shapes combined,as described in the example of the related art, the recess correspondingto the straight portion and the recess corresponding to the bilge-shapedportion have had to be individually formed by using the differentcutters. This is because the joint portion between the straight portionand the bilge-shaped portion is discontinuous and has a reentrantinternal angle so that it is extremely difficult to manufacture a cuttercapable of working the recess corresponding to the reentrant angle by asingle cutting operation.

According to the construction of this embodiment, on the contrary, thesliding face 10 extends along the circumference of the shaft 3, and thescrew ridge 12 extends from the atmospheric side slope 11 to the slidingface 10. Therefore, it is possible to make salient the internal angle ofthe joint portion between the cutoff portion 12 a, which is the portionfor mainly keeping the initial sealing properties, and the bilge-shapedportion, which is the portion for mainly keeping the sealing propertieswhen the wear proceeds.

The recess corresponding to such screw shape can be formed by the singleworking operation using the cutter, which is cut off at the end portionof its blade edge. In short, the screw ridges for the actions andeffects like those obtained by combining the straight screws and thebilge-shaped screws can be realized more easily.

A specific method for manufacturing the molding die will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIG. 4. Of FIGS. 3A and 3B showingthe cutter for forming the recesses corresponding to the screw ridges,FIG. 3A presents a side elevation, and FIG. 3B presents a perspectiveview. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the behavior when therecess corresponding to the screw ridge is formed in the molding die.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a cutter 14 to be used in this embodimentis provided with not only an arcuate blade edge 15 corresponding to thebilge-shaped portion but also a cutoff blade edge 15 a, which is cut offstraight from one end portion of that blade edge 15. The manufacture ofsuch blade edge shape is relatively easy. When the cutter 14 is pushedonto a molding die 16, as shown in FIG. 4, a recess 17 corresponding tothe screw shape can be formed by the single working operation.

Thus, according to the construction of this embodiment, the two kinds ofscrew portions of different shapes can be cut in the molding die by thesingle operation so that the working process of the molding die can besimplified and facilitated.

Moreover, the screw shape of the portion for retaining the initialsealing properties is cut off straight so that the working operation ofthe cutter 14 is made easy. In addition, even if the cutter 14 is moreor less offset in the axial direction when it is pushed onto the moldingdie 16, the offset does not adversely affect the screw height (from thesliding face 10) of the cutoff portion 12 a of the screw ridge 12 sothat the dispersion in the sealing performance due to the workingprecision can be suppressed.

Moreover, the lip leading end portion is formed by the sliding face 10so that the knife-cutting step can be eliminated. Therefore, the sealbody can be manufactured only by the molding operation so that theworking process of the sealing device itself can be simplified andfacilitated.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the invention. The foregoing firstembodiment has the construction, in which the screw ridges are formedfrom the atmospheric side slope to the sliding face. In this embodiment,however, second screw ridges are additionally formed on the slidingface.

The remaining constructions and actions are identical to those of thefirst embodiment. Hence, the description of the common constructionportions will be omitted by designating the portions by the commonreference numerals.

The seal lip 7 of this embodiment is provided on its sliding face 10with parallel screw ridges 18 as the second screw ridges. These parallelscrew ridges 18 are formed to extend from the end edge of the slidingface 10 on the atmospheric side A to the end edge on the sealed objectside O and to have substantially predetermined sizes in both height andwidth.

With the parallel screw ridges 18 formed on the sliding face 10, at theinitial action time, the sliding face 10, the parallel screw ridges 18and the cutoff portions 12 a of the screw ridges 12 make contacts withthe circumference of the shaft 3. Therefore, the screw pump effect bythe screw ridges can be enhanced to improve the initial sealingproperties better.

In order to form the parallel screw ridges 18 of that shape, it issufficient to push a cutter having a straight blade edge onto thecorresponding portion of the molding die thereby to cut the recessescorresponding to the screw shapes. Therefore, little difficult isencountered when the molding die or the sealing device itself is worked.

Other Embodiments

In the individual embodiments thus far described, there are adopted thebilge-shaped screw ridges, to which the screw ridges should not belimited in shape. However, a variety of screw shapes can be adopted, asexemplified in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

In FIG. 6A, screw ridges 19 of a parallel screw shape are formed fromthe atmospheric side slope 11 to the sliding face 10 of the seal lip 7.The screw ridges 19 are based by a parallel screw shape havingsubstantially predetermined sizes in both height and width. In thisshape, the end portions (or cutoff portions 19 a) on the side of thesliding face 10 are cut off along the circumference of the shaft.

In FIG. 6B, moreover, screw ridges 20 of a taper shape are formed fromthe atmospheric side slope 11 to the sliding face 10 of the seal lip 7.The screw ridges 20 are based by such a taper shape as is made larger inheight and width toward the atmospheric side. In this shape, the endportions (or cutoff portions 20 a) on the side of the sliding face 10are cut off along the circumference of the shaft.

These cases of the screw ridges 19 and 20 can also attain the actionsand effects like those of the foregoing first embodiment.

Industrial Applicability

According to the invention, the sliding portion between the seal lip andthe member circumference is made of a face (or a sliding face) so thatthe facial pressure at the initial action time can be lowered tosuppress the proceeding of the wear of the seal lip thereby to elongatethe lifetime of the sealing device.

Moreover, both the sliding face and the atmospheric side slope areprovided with the screw ridges so that the satisfactory sealingproperties can be exhibited initially and endurably for a long time bythe screw pump effect of the screw ridges.

Moreover, the internal angle of the joint portions between the screwportions arranged on the atmospheric side slope and the screw portionsarranged on the sliding face is made salient so that the step of workingthe recesses corresponding in the screw ridges in the molding die forthe sealing device can be made simple and easy.

If the screw ridges are formed along the atmospheric side slope and tohave a cut-off shape at their end portions on the side of the slidingface along the sliding face, the working can be more facilitated. Incase the screw ridges are formed to have the straight cut-off shape,moreover, the working by the cutter itself can be facilitated, and thedispersion in the sealing performances due to the working precision canbe suppressed to improve the reliability of the sealing device.

If the second screw ridges are formed on the sliding face, moreover, thesealing properties at the initial action time can be better improved.

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A sealing device for sealing an annular clearancebetween two members assembled to rotate relative to each other, saidsealing device comprising a seal lip for sliding on the circumference ofone of said two members, wherein said seal lip includes: a sliding faceextending along said circumference; an atmospheric side slope inclinedto enlarge the clearance gradually between the slope and saidcircumference from the atmospheric side end edge of said sliding face;and a screw ridge formed from said atmospheric side slope to saidsliding face, and wherein said screw ridge is formed along saidatmospheric side slope and to have such a shape that its end portion onthe side of said sliding face is cut off along said sliding face.
 6. Asealing device according to claim 5, wherein the internal angle of ajoint between two portions of said screw ridge, the one portion beingarranged on said atmospheric side slope and the another portion beingarranged on said sliding face, is a salient angle.
 7. A sealing deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein second screw ridge is formed only on saidsliding face.